Vote Then Read: Volume I

by Carly Phillips

  When night rolls around, I can’t sleep, knowing she’s on the other side of my bedroom wall. After tossing and turning, I get up, intending to visit the kitchen for a late-night snack. Vanessa’s door opens at the exact same moment. She’s wearing tiny shorts, a tight tank top and no bra. We collide. I wrap my fingers around her biceps to keep us both from falling.

  “Sorry,” we say in unison.

  “Can’t sleep?” I ask when we’ve each taken a step back.

  “No. I— Not really.” She glances at her bedroom door like she wants to dive inside.

  “Me neither.” I can’t tear my eyes away from her breasts. They’re high and full, the cotton stretched taut between her erect nipples, and they jiggle when she moves. “I was going to the kitchen for a snack.”

  She runs her tongue over her lower lip, and my eager dick swells. The gesture captures my interest. “I’ve got some chocolate chip cookies in my room, if you want some.”

  “Yes.” Hell, yes. I want her cookies and her hands on me and my cock buried deep inside her. My previous resolve melts away under the heat in her eyes. She turns into the room, holding the door open for me to pass. I tell myself it’s the cookies I’m interested in when both my dick and my stomach know it’s a lie.

  Once inside, she sits on the bed cross-legged. With the plate of cookies between us, I stretch out on my side next to her and try not to think about all the things we could be doing on her bed besides eating.

  “Good, huh?” She swipes a crumb from the corner of her mouth with the tip of her tongue.

  “Where did you get these?” I’m on my third one. The cookies are soft and sweet with huge chunks of chocolate.

  “I bribed the cook to make them before she left.” A mischievous smile curls the corner of her mouth. Her gaze flickers to my mouth. “They’re my weakness—among other things.”

  My heart skips a beat at her answer. Is she flirting with me? She’s hard to read. After her earlier brush-off, I question my instincts. Her body language suggests disinterest, but her eyes keep devouring me.

  “What other things?” My voice cracks on the question. I keep imagining what it would be like to smear the melted chocolate from the cookies on her breasts and lick it off.

  “Oh, I don’t know.” She leans back on her hands. “Random stuff.”

  “Like what?” I want to learn more about her, what makes her tick.

  “Okay.” Her smile causes my groin to tighten. “I love old movies, the kind with Bette Davis and Cary Grant.” Through the cover of her lashes, she glances up at me.

  I nod and twirl a finger in the air. “Go on.”

  “Chocolate, but you already know that. I like the way babies smell and puppy breath, and I can never pass up a secondhand store.”

  “You buy secondhand stuff?” At my disbelief, she rolls her eyes. “You mean like vintage Dior or Chanel, right?”

  “No.” She punches my shoulder playfully. I catch her fist, dwarfing it with my large hand, and brush a thumb over her knuckles. “I buy all kinds of stuff—jewelry, clothes. I enjoy knowing something has a history. Like this ring. I bought it at a secondhand store in New York.” Three emeralds wink from the silver band on her little finger.

  “They match your eyes.” I take her hand and study the long, slender fingers. Now I’ve got both her hands in mine. She tries to pull back, but I don’t let go. I can’t. Each time we touch, electricity pulses through me. The sensation is novel and addictive.

  “Cam.” The sound of my name on her lips is half plea, half warning.

  “Vanessa?” I lift an eyebrow, staring her down, letting her know I’m not going anywhere quite yet.

  18

  Vanessa

  Twelve Years Ago

  The bed creaks as Cam shifts closer. I try to remove my hands from his, but I don’t have the willpower. He’s too sexy to resist. I’ve been restless all night, knowing he’s on the other side of the wall separating our rooms. Now he’s in my bed, touching me, awakening all the desires I’ve tried to avoid.

  Slowly, like he’s afraid he’ll scare me, he sits up. A shiver courses along my back. All the nerve endings in my body snap into full alert. We stare at each other. Whenever he moves, the scent of peppermint and woodsy body spray teases my nose.

  I thought I was fine with a one-off, but my body craves more of him. After this morning, I meant to walk away and pretend it never it happened. I was a fool to believe it possible. “What are we doing?”

  “Making a huge mistake.” Cam’s breath tickles against my ear.

  “This can’t mean anything.”

  “It doesn’t.” Strong fingertips trail along my shoulder to sweep a wisp of hair away from my face. He presses a kiss to my temple.

  “No one can know.”

  “They won’t.”

  “Did you bring a condom?”

  “Damn. No.”

  “I thought you were a boy scout. Always prepared.”

  “I’m anything but a boy scout.” He shakes his head, but his lips curl up at the corners. “Stay here. I’ll be back.”

  Butterflies twitter in my stomach. He’s back, foil packet in hand, before I can find a reason to back out. Who am I kidding? I don’t want to back out. When I’m old and gray, I’ll be able to say I slept with the hottest guy in existence.

  He sits on the bed beside me and places a hand on my bare thigh. The air between us thickens. I study his lips. They’re thick and soft with a sensitive Cupid’s bow. He rolls them together. Gathering my courage, I lean into him and press a kiss on his mouth. A growl rumbles through his chest. His fingers tighten on my leg. I expect him to take me right away, like he did in the library, but he doesn’t. Instead, he kisses me back, long and slow. His fingertips skate along the bare strip of skin between my shorts and tank top.

  We make out until my lips swell and my panties dampen. He cups the back of my neck with one hand. I tangle my fingers in his silky hair. Between us, his erection hovers against my leg, but he doesn’t press for more. There’s no hurry, no rush, as we explore each other. I could kiss him for hours like this. I’ve dreamed of being kissed like this, by someone who knows how.

  Outside my open bedroom window, bullfrogs sing. A horse neighs from the stable. Time stands still. It’s just the two of us, alone in this big house. The space between my thighs begins to ache. My hands roam over Cam’s body, beneath his shirt where his flesh is hot and firm.

  “Look what you’re doing to me, princess.” He takes my hand in his and slides my palm along the length of his erection. I curl my fingers around the hardness, making him moan. “We need to slow down, or I’m not going to last much longer.”

  “I was thinking the exact opposite.”

  “Who’s in charge here?” he asks, laughter shaking his voice. Beneath his lashes, he shoots me a sideways glance, but he never looks directly at me.

  “Me?”

  “I don’t think so.” In one expert motion, he flips me onto my back and settles between my thighs. Plush lips pepper kisses along my throat, collarbone, and breasts. “The sooner you figure that out, the better off we’ll be.”

  The mattress squeaks when he sits up on his knees between my parted legs. He reaches behind his head and pulls his T-shirt over his head, baring his smooth chest and abs. Unspoken praise for his beauty catches in my throat. I can’t believe this magnificent creature is about to rock my world—again. How lucky am I? With his palms against my skin, he slides my tank over my head and tosses it into the shadows.

  “Such a beauty,” he murmurs.

  He’s so warm, almost feverish. His fingertips burn along my ribs, reaching to cup my breasts. A gentle squeeze of his big hands causes me to squeak. Anticipation and impatience consume my body. The waiting is excruciating. I want him inside me, over me. I squirm and thrust my hips upward. He murmurs something unintelligible over my belly then kisses a trail up to my breast. Sensuous lips encircle my nipple and suck until my toes curl.

  “Cam, please. You’r
e making me crazy.” I feel his smile against my skin.

  “Am I? Good.” The gentle sting of his teeth on my nipple precedes the soothing silk of his tongue.

  “You enjoy torturing me, don’t you?”

  For the first time, he looks directly into my eyes. The sight of blue irises between thick, black lashes steals my breath. “Hell yes.” He rises to his knees. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

  He grips my ankles and yanks, sliding me off the pillow and flat onto my back. I’m too stunned to react. I just stare up at him, speechless, while he props my calves on his shoulders and dives between my legs. He presses a kiss to my belly button.

  “These shorts.” The tip of his finger tickles along the inside of the waistband. My belly quivers. He works the snug polyester down over my hips. “They’re sexy as fuck, but they’ve got to go.”

  “That mouth.” I tug on his hair. “Your language is appalling.”

  “In about five minutes, you’re going to be singing praises about this mouth,” he says. My shorts sail across the room with one flick of his hand.

  “Care to place a wager on that?”

  His breath hits my clit, followed by a flick of his tongue. Holy moly. Pulses of electricity zip to my nerve endings. A finger dips inside me. I wiggle, trying to get away from the overwhelming pleasure. “How much?” His deep voice vibrates through my body.

  “What?”

  “What’s the wager?” The bed groans as he shifts his weight. “Are you a gambler, Vanessa? Do you like taking risks?”

  Is he really talking about bets when I’m on the verge of a mind-altering orgasm? He lifts his head to glance up at me through the shield of his lashes. At the same time, he curls his finger, stroking the magic place on my inner wall. Blood thunders through my ears. I can’t think, can’t breathe, can’t begin to process the flood of conflicting sensations. A wave of heat races up my chest, followed by a shiver.

  “Just get back down there and get to work,” I manage to say between gasps, giving his head a little push. His laughter echoes through the quiet. I don’t care. He can laugh all he wants, as long as he doesn’t stop.

  He brings me to climax over and over using his lips, tongue, and fingers. Within an hour, I’m exhausted, the strength sapped from my limbs. Sleep tugs at my eyelids. Cam crawls up my body, resting his weight on his elbows at my sides, and nudges between my legs with his cock.

  “Oh, no, no, no. Don’t you dare fall asleep on me.” The tip of his nose nuzzles my earlobe. “I’m far from done with you.”

  In less than a heartbeat, he’s inside me. Adrenalin replaces the exhaustion. Our bodies slap together. Cam moves in an easy, rolling rhythm, sliding in and out in a measured dance. I cling to him with arms and legs, holding onto the last vestiges of my self-control, until I can’t tell where I end or he begins.

  19

  Cam

  Twelve Years Ago

  Vanessa is pliable in my hands. Our bodies undulate perfectly together; she counters each of my moves with one of her own. We fit like we’re made for each other. I expected this tryst to curb my desire; I was so wrong. My hunger for her increases tenfold with every passing second.

  She’s attentive and eager to please. Her hands grip my ass, nails digging into skin, making me hiss. Between moans, she peppers warm kisses along my neck, nips at my shoulder. “Tell me what to do,” she murmurs, her lips just below my ear.

  “Hold onto me tight.” The feel of her arms and legs around me, drives me wild. Most of the time, I’m too concerned with the woman’s pleasure to worry about my own, but Vanessa brings a new level of experience to my arousal.

  Her skin is smooth like velvet, her hair silky and soft. I bite my lower lip, trying to slow down, not wanting to hurt her, but can’t help myself. The coil of desire tightens in my groin with each thrust. I grunt like an animal.

  “Ah, Cam, I’m coming.” Her body stiffens beneath me. The waves of her orgasm ripple around my cock. I throw away restraint and pound into her, hard enough to make the headboard rattle. My balls constrict, and pleasure licks along my skin. Vanessa’s fingers bite into my back. I squeeze my eyes shut, savoring the experience.

  Once we’ve stopped shaking, I roll to the side and throw a forearm over my eyes. The sheets rustle to my left. Vanessa’s bare feet patter along the hardwood floor and into the adjoining bathroom. I use the opportunity to quiet my breathing. A few seconds later I hear the water running in the shower. The idea of her naked, soap suds sliding over her perfect tits, the way I’ve fantasized for the past few nights, revs my motor.

  When I open the shower door, she’s standing there, glistening, rivulets of water streaming over her smooth skin. I fuck her in the shower, on the bathroom floor, and again in the bed. She’s insatiable, the first woman I’ve ever met who matches my own libido. We go on for hours, into the dawn. The pink-and-orange light of morning spills through the curtains when her breathing evens out.

  I know I should go back to my room, but the bed is comfortable. Vanessa snuggles into the crook of my shoulder, her nose nestling in my neck. I’ve never actually slept with a woman. The novelty of a warm, soft body against mine is the best sedative and after a few moments, sleep closes my eyes.

  We spend the next day in bed with a few breaks for sustenance. The Avondales will be back in the morning, and this fantasy will end. I try not to think about it. Instead, I concentrate all my efforts into exploring Vanessa’s mind and body.

  “Why don’t you look at me?” Her question comes out of nowhere.

  “What are you talking about?” With the tip of my index finger, I circle her navel.

  “When we’re having sex, you never look at me.”

  “I’m looking at you right now.” When I glance up at her, she’s got her lower lip trapped between her teeth.

  “We’re not having sex.”

  “Let me fix that.” I wedge a hand between her thighs, shifting my weight over her.

  With both hands on my chest, she pushes me away. “I’m serious. You never look at me, and it’s a little disconcerting.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

  I fall onto my back and stare up at the ceiling. I’m no good at sharing my feelings. To be honest, I have no idea why I do half the things I do. “It’s nothing personal.”

  “Are you thinking about someone else?” For all her confidence, she’s just as insecure as the rest of us mortals. Her vulnerability twinges my sympathies and makes me like her that much more.

  “Why would I be thinking about another woman when I’m with someone as awesome as you?” I roll to my side and prop my head up on my elbow.

  Her shoulders lift in a shrug. She plays with the embroidered edge of the bedsheet. “I don’t know. You seem disconnected somehow.”

  “You’re imagining things.” My laughter is hollow. I smooth a finger over the furrow in her brow.

  “Am I?” One of her hands travels along my belly to land between my legs. She squeezes my balls gently, making me instantly hard again. “Look at me, Cam.”

  I can’t. Instead, I bury my head in her neck and lick a path up to her ear.

  “I mean it. Look at me.” Her hand strokes up my cock. The sensation is delicious. I squeeze my eyes shut. “What are you afraid of?”

  The mattress shakes as she slides down my body. A whiff of her body lotion teases my nose. Her lips close around the head of my cock. A moan rises in my throat. Her mouth is the perfect combination of warmth and wetness. I clutch the bed until my fingers ache.

  “Oh God, you’re good at this.” The muscles in my groin tighten. I’m so close to coming.

  “Thanks.”

  I open my eyes to find out why she stopped, but I can’t meet her gaze. If I do, she’ll see through me, and I can’t have that. She rests her chin on my chest while I stare at the ceiling. I grip both her forearms, drag her into a sitting position, then fumble for the last condom on the nightstand. She takes it from my hand, rips the packet, and drops it to the floor. I grit my
teeth as she slides the condom over my shaft.

  “Look at me, Cam.” Her gentle touch tips my chin.

  Our eyes meet at the exact time she lowers onto my dick. My body tenses at the sensation of slick friction. I’m lost, lost in the black pools of her pupils, sinking into their depths with no hope of ever climbing back out. This is the reason I never look at the girl I’m fucking, because I can’t risk emotional attachment.

  “You feel so good.” Her eyes close, and she tips her head back. This time it’s her ending the visual connection. “You’re going to ruin me for other guys, you know?”

  “That’s my evil plan.” The thought of her doing this with someone else knots my stomach.

  “I knew it.” A tiny smile curls her mouth before she tugs her lower lip between her teeth. She lifts then settles again. A little hum of satisfaction vibrates through her. Her breasts, perfect and round, jiggle. The way she works my cock makes me grateful for her equestrian skills. I grip her hips and drive deeper into her.

  “You like that?” I ask.

  “Yes. More.”

  Those are the last words for either of us. Passion overtakes conversation. I sit up and wrap my arms around her waist. We writhe and twist our way into the next orgasm. She’s wild, riding me with abandon, heedless of the rickety antique bed or the noises coming from both of us.

  Afterward, neither of us says anything. I pick up my clothes and head back to my room. Before I go, she presses a kiss to my cheek. I pause at the threshold for one last look at her. She’s already asleep, sprawling over the bed, the twisted sheets draped over her.

  “Goodbye, princess,” I whisper and close the door behind me.

  The Avondales return in the morning, and everything goes back to normal—almost. Vanessa and I manage to avoid each other except for meals. My traitorous subconscious, however, can’t let go. My dreams are plagued by sinful scenarios: her on top, me on top, doggy style in the kitchen, missionary on the floor, reverse cowgirl in the gazebo. To relieve my tension, I jack off in the shower to fantasies of Vanessa’s plump lips wrapped around my cock.